Study Vehicle and Traffic Engineering in Germany

Degree programmes in vehicle engineering and the related area of automotive engineering first provide a basic engineering education. You then have the possibility to specialise in numerous areas according to your interests. You can choose to focus on, e.g., motor sports, ergonomics, electric mobility, assistance systems for various vehicle types, or autonomous driving.

In traffic engineering, you can dive deeper into traffic modelling and simulation, the management of traffic flows in public transportation, the impact of traffic on the environment, or traffic demand management.

The degree programme is very much based on knowledge of the natural sciences. The following areas are integral components of the programme: mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, technical mathematics as well as engineering mathematics, computer science, physics, but also statics. You should therefore have the relevant knowledge and interests!

The degree programmes are usually very practice-oriented so your future job opportunities are varied depending on your interests and specialisations.

With a general higher education entrance qualification, a university of applied sciences entrance qualification or a subject-specific higher education entrance qualification, you will be eligible to apply at most higher education institutions to study vehicle and traffic engineering. Any equivalently recognised qualification is usually also accepted. If you are unable to meet these requirements, you can also gain admission to the degree programmes by passing a vocational examination at the “Meister” level or by gaining other professional experience.

Some higher education institutions require a pre-study internship of several weeks. Even when this is not compulsory, such an internship can help you personally to gain a more accurate impression of your future subject and potential career. However, if you don’t have the opportunity to do so, that’s not a problem either: Practical phases during your studies are actually an integral element of the curriculum at most higher education institutions. Further admission restrictions may apply, for example in the form of a numerus clausus (NC), i.e. a minimum grade, but these are usually not very high. It is also important to note that in some cases you must have completed a minimum requirement of ECTS credits in your Bachelor’s degree programme in order to be admitted to the Master’s programme. If you cannot prove that, you will have to take additional courses from the Bachelor’s degree programmes.

The actual duration of your studies depends, among other things, on your personal speed of studying. However, there are so-called standard periods of study, which vary depending on the specific degree programme and higher education institution. For a Bachelor’s degree, you can generally expect six or seven semesters, for a Master’s degree three to four. These degree programmes lead to a Bachelor/Master of Engineering or Bachelor/Master of Science degree. Some higher education institutions also offer German Diplom programmes in vehicle and traffic engineering. For a Diplom, you should usually plan on eight semesters.

The costs of studying vehicle and traffic engineering do not differ greatly from other degree programmes. Generally, you do not have to pay tuition fees at public higher education institutions, only semester contributions. These usually range from 100 to 400 euros and cover costs such as administration and student services. Sometimes your semester contribution covers a ticket for local public transport or you can purchase a discounted ticket. Depending on where you study, this may be valid for the city, the region or even for all of Germany. Ask your higher education institution whether such an offer is currently available.

Important to know: Even though there are usually no tuition fees at state higher education institutions, fees may be charged in certain cases, e.g. for a second degree or long-term students!

Private higher education institutions and distance learning courses are always associated with tuition fees and thus higher costs.

In addition, you should not forget to budget rent and living costs, as these will usually make up the majority of your expenses. How expensive a city is can vary greatly. However, student residences or shared flats are almost always the cheaper choices! As soon as you have decided on where you want to study, you should start looking, as halls of residence can fill up quickly. Here, you can find information on local halls of residence and the respective application process for most cities.

To finance your studies in Germany, you should also find out about scholarships. There are many different scholarship programmes and excellent grades are not the only deciding factor. You can learn more about scholarships here and find suitable programmes directly on My GUIDE.

A degree in vehicle engineering provides you with career opportunities in, e.g., vehicle development, production planning, quality management, or technical procurement. As a key industry in Germany, the automotive industry provides a comprehensive offering of job opportunities in the engineering sector. A degree in traffic engineering offers promising career opportunities in all industries and companies that deal with traffic and transportation infrastructure. This includes commercial logistics providers as well as public transport operators and regulatory authorities. Some examples of possible career options:

• Automotive industry: jobs in R&D, production or component supply
• Transport and logistics companies
• Associations and public administration: This includes, e.g., testing and inspection bodies or licensing authorities as well as transport companies. The fields of traffic management or traffic planning are also open to you.
• Engineering Offices
• Research institutes and higher education institutions
• Of course, you can also start your own business: experts or external appraisers also have good chances with a degree in vehicle and traffic engineering.

Typically, a degree in vehicle engineering will allow you to work in the private sector and a degree in traffic engineering will allow you to work in the public sector. Even if the private sector generally pays better, as an engineer you often have very good salary opportunities everywhere! By the way, your degree is also very important for your starting salary: a Master’s degree or a doctorate can significantly increase your annual salary.